Intro To Genotypes and Phenotypes - Design A Whatchamacallit Bug

thingiverse

Students will delve into the distinction between genotype and phenotype by deciphering allele combinations for various characteristics. Students will flip a coin to determine individual alleles and then utilize that information to ascertain the 9 different traits for their "Whatchamacallit" bug. After gathering the traits their bug possesses, students will create a 3D model of their "Whatchamacallit" bug on Tinkercad. Following completion, all groups will observe the similarities and differences between everyone's creations to facilitate a discussion about how traits vary from organism to organism. Students will be able to... - Determine how the results of their random allele combinations impact their “whatchamacallit” bug. - Design a 3D model of their “whatchamacallit” bug on Tinkercad. - Compare and contrast the results of their 3D model with other groups' 3D models. NGSS Standards MS-LS3-2: Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation. Disciplinary Core Ideas LS3-A: Inheritance of Traits: Variations of inherited traits between parent and offspring arise from genetic differences that result from the subset of chromosomes (and therefore genes) inherited. LS3-B: Variation of Traits: In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring. Individuals have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired from each parent. These versions may be identical or may differ from each other. Science and Engineering Practices Developing and Using Models: Develop and use a model to describe phenomena. Crosscutting Concepts Cause and Effect: Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural systems. Since there are numerous possibilities of what students' designs could look like, there is no set requirement for what will be printed out. I have uploaded a possible answer sheet and the resulting design for an example to go off of.